Skin buffer



Sept. 21, 1954 R. H. GRIFFIN 2,689,435

SKIN BUFFER Filed March 30, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z8 k 34i 56 30 as H a II .8 a 37 "Ffi' ltobertlmlyyii g ATTORNEY Sept. 21, 1954 R. H. GRIFFIN SKIN BUFFER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1950 INVENTOR 1 atllfiryjila,

ATTORNEY R. H. GRIFFIN Sept. 21, 1954 SKIN BUFFER 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 30, 1950 llii Sept. 21, 1954 R. H. GRIFFIN 2,689,435

. SKIN BUFFER Filed March 30, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY R. H. GRIFFIN Sept. 21, 1954 SKIN BUFFER Filed March so, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Sept. 21, 1954 R. H. GRIFFIN 2,689,435

SKIN BUFFER Filed March 30, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR file,

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1954 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE SKI-N BUFFER Robert H. Griffin, Yonkers, NFY.

Application March 30, 1950, Serial No. 152,782

21 Claims.

This invention relates generally to buffing devices and more particularly to buffers for bufling' skins, hides: and the like.-

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved buffer for buffing skins and like work, whereby the work is buffed uniformly.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved buffer, wherein the landing medium acts on a smooth, tautwork surface.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved buffer of the multi-pass type, whereby skins can be buffed uniformly by a relatively unskilled operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved buffer of the multi-pass type, capable of burning skins-of diii'erent thicknesses without reseating.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bufiing roll for a buffer, utilizing centrifugal force to apply buffing pressure to the abradant, whereby the abradant is enabled to accommodate itself to any surface irregularities in the work.

'An additional object' 'of the invention is to provide an improved buning roll for a buffer, formed of one or more uniform sections, whereby the roll may readily be adjusted to accommodate work of different widths.

An additional object of the invention is to pro vide a buiiing roll for abufler, having a plurality of abrasive sleeves so arranged and secured peripherally' of the rollas to provide a uniform buffing action over the entire width of the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a bufier, a work-presenting device by which work is subjected both telongitudinal and trans versespreading forces, ensuring its presentationtothebufling medium in smooth, unwri'nkled condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a buffer; a work-presenting device by which drawing of a skin by the operator past the abrading medium isyie'ldably resisted by a substantially constant force which is independent of the buflin-g pressure.

Otherobjectsand advantages or the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings" in which:

Figure I isa vertical sectional view of the improved buffer of the. present invention, taken along the lines l'--! of Figure 2';

Figure 2 is a front" elevational view of thebufier cfr'igure' 1';

Figure 3 is avertical sectional view, taken along. the lines 3-4 of Figure" 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevationalvi'ew onan enlarged scale of the bufiing rollof Figure 1;

' Figure 5 is an isometric view on anenlarged scale of the nose-piece of the skin-presenting mechanism;

Figure 6 is an isometric View of the angle-iron on which the back board of the skin-presenting mechanism is mounted;

Figure 7 is a fi'agrnentary view on an enlarged scale of the upper' end portion of the back-up board of Figure 3, showing the details of construction of its setting-out unit;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken along the lines 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9" is afront elevational view of the buffing roll of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of one or the sections of the drum of Figure 4;

Figure 11 is a front el'evati'onal view of the section of Figure 19, with portions broken away to more clearly illustrate certain of the details of construction; and

Figure 1 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of an abrasive core and its associated anchor bar.

While the buiier of' the present invention is of broad usage, the illustrated embodiment is par ticularly designed for use on skins, hides and the like, hereinafter termed skins. In such use, the buiier may be employed for buffing both the grain and flesh sides of skins, these operations in a tannery being termed, respectively, snuffing and bufiing, but here being grouped under the more general term buifing. The illustrated buffer is of the multi-p'ass type in which the bufiing mechanism is mounted on a suitable frame of the same general type as those employed for conventional multi-pass machine's. As with the conventional machine, a skin is placed or laid by the operator on the back-up or skin-presenting portion of the mechanism, the operator maintaininga grip on the upper or outer edge of the f skin. With the skin inplace, the presenting portion of the mechanism is actuated to bring the surface of the skin into contact with the bufiing roll of thei'nchan'ism, and the skin is then gradually withdrawn by the operator, progressively to treat its surface from the point of initial contact to its outer end, the pressure exerted on the skin and the speed at which it is withdrawn being' entirely controlled by the operator. After the skin has been withdrawn, it is reversed and its opposite end treated in the same manner.

The device of the present invention is designed to buff the skin uniformly, and without possibility of burning or scorching, by setting-out the skin as it is drawn into contact with the bufiing roll to present a smooth, unwrinkled surface, and buffing the skin with an abrasive medium deriving its buffing pressure from centrifugal force.

In treating skins, whether in automatic machines or in the multi-pass type of machine, just described, it is desirable that a skin be presented for buifing in smooth, taut condition and, particularly on the grain side, that the abrading medium be able to accommodate itself to the variations in grain, and on both sides that the pressure exerted on the skin be held to a minimum to prevent scorching of the skin, The buffing roll of the illustrated buffing device is particularly designed to produce such action.

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts, the improved buffer of the present invention is provided with a frame I having a base 22 and transversely spaced uprights or supports 3, on the latter of which are journaled the ends of a shaft or axle l of a rotary buffing roll, drum, member or device 5. The buffing roll may be driven directly or, as illustrated, by a variable speed drive through a pulley 6 amxed to the roll shaft :3 and drivably connected to a drive shaft 1 having a multi-stage, power take-off pulley 3.

Associated with the bufling roll, and disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 4 thereof, is a back-up or skin-presenting device, member or mechanism 9 by which a skin is presented for buffing by the buffing roll. up member, preferably of somewhat greater width or extent than the bufling roll, is also mounted on the uprights 3 of the frame 1 outwardly of the roll. It is comprised of two main parts, one a back board or inner jaw l9 and the other, a back-up board or outer jaw ll. Of the two boards, the back board is substantially vertically disposed with its inner face or surface l2 positioned somewhat below the axis and be-- yond the periphery of the buffing roll, longitudinally of the frame. The back-up board is mounted on the frame I and, for reasons to be hereinafter pointed out, at least its upper portion is adapted to move yieldably toward the buffing roll. This may be accomplished by hinging the lower end of the back board and yield ably mounting its upper end, or, as shown, by yieldably mounting the back board in its entirety by attaching to the inner face [3 of each of the uprights S a substantially vertically disposed angle-iron i i, having one leg I5 in abutment or engagement with the associated upright and the other leg it disposed or projecting inwardly thereof, transversely of the frame. The back board is connected to each of these inner, transverse legs it by vertically spaced bolts H, the stems or shanks iii of which are encircled by coil springs it acting between the back board and the angle-irons M and normally urging the back board away from the bufiing roll, the limit of such movement being adjustable through nuts 28 threadedly engaging the inner ends of the bolts. Adjustment of the angle-irons relative to the frame is also contemplated by the provision of vertical slots 2| in the frame-engaging legs i5 of the angle-irons and intersecting horizontally disposed slots 22 in the frame, in which ride connecting bolts 23, the slots enablin the angleirons and, with them, the back board to be shifted in any direction parallel to the uprights 3.

The back- Confronting or opposing the outer face l2 of the back board and, in operative position, disposed substantially parallel thereto is the backup board or outer jaw i i. This board is intended to serve as the movable, shiftable, pivoted or hinged jaw or element of the back-up member and, for this purpose, is pivotally or hingedly attached, adjacent its lower end, to the uprights 3 by a bar, rod or other shaft 24 having its ends carried by the uprights and its intermediate portion encircled by transversely spaced collars 25 attached to the outer face 25 of the backup board ll, which may be formed as part of hinges or hangers 2'! having downwardly extending lower arms or levers 28 through which the backup board may be pivoted or oscillated. For actuating the back-up board, through the levers 23, the latter are connected by adjustable links 29 to the upper legs 36 of a pair of bell cranks ill, on the lower legs 32 of which is carried an actuating treadle or step 33. The upper portion of the back-up board is normally held away from the back board ii] by a coil spring or like resilient means 34 which, conveniently, may extend between a cross-member 35 of the frame and a cross-bar 36 connecting the lower arms 28 of the hinges 2'1. The extent of movement of the treadle 33, and thus, the opening between the jaws on movement of the back-up board H against the force of the spring 3 4, may be limited by a stop or abutment 3"! on the frame, against which the treadle is adapted to abut, the extent to which the back-up board is swung within this limit being adjustable by adjustment of the links 29.

Attached or secured to and extending across the upper end of the back-up board is a backup element, nose-piece or tongue 38 which projects inwardly from its inner or back board-confronting face 39 and, when the boards are in operative or closed position as shown in Figure 1, is adapted to overlie the upper end of the back board it. This nose-piece is substantially a right-triangle in cross-section, with its under face Ml tapering or inclined upwardly away from the back-up board, the nose-piece terminating in a rounded, relatively narrow or thin, outer end or nose 4|. As shown, the nose extends across the buffing roll 5 and is adapted to be moved substantially to the periphery of the roll to present a surface of a skin for buffing when the treadle 33 is depressed. This nose may be made of wood, a material suitable for the boards and the balance of the nose-piece, but is preferably of metal because of its greater wear resistance.

To ensure that buffing will be limited to that portion of a skin backed-up by the rounded nose 4! and that contact will then be obtained across the entire width of the skin, the nose is preferably struck abcut an axis substantially parallel to and in the same horizontal plane as the axis of the axle l of the bufling roll. Such engagement of a skin with the buffer at the maximum horizontal distance from the axis of the latter also permits ready observation by the operator of the extent of buffing. Additionally, the nose is positioned at a height above ground consistent with most efficient handling of a skin, the upper surface 42 of the nose-piece being substantially horizontally disposed for the same purpose.

The aforementioned yieldable mounting of the back board I6 is employed to provide a substantially constant resistance to pull or withdrawal of a skin by the operator, independently of both the extent or amount of the buffing pressure and,

nneansr aiwide rangegthe thickness 01 ';:the skin. zffhis is obtained by; attaching; to: the inner. face M3 ofitheback-board aidjacent its npperend, an inwardly projecting lip or ledge 44 having in downwardly inclined upperrtace 45rwhich, under- .lies orqunderrides, andis substantially parallel to a substantial portioncf theinclined .underwor lower. face 1-4-0 of the nose-piece, when the backnpboard H is inoperative or closedposition. These nonfrontingsurfaces .provide, therebetween, a guide channel 46 having a gripping element :orsurface on-,eith'er side by, which a skin is yieldably or resiliently gripped, by virtue of the resilient mounting of the back: board, as the skin is ied to ordrawn into-engagement with the .bufling roll. By yieldably mounting .both the upperwandlowercend portions of the. hack board, in: the manner illustrated, therboard is caused to be displaced substantially horizontally, the extent depending upon thet-hickness-nf the particular skin being. abuii'e'd, time maintaining the; parallel dispositienor .alignment (of :theconfronting 'or .gri-pping faces, 40 and 45.

Belowzpthe lower level of thelip 44,;therevare mounted on the confronting facesef the boards, these their outer andinner faces l2 and .39,,,respectively, a setting-outdevice int-he form of opposed, coacting 11011541, a plurality of which are :mcumted on eachwboard. Each of 1 the rollsis formed of .a plurality of ball or like bearings mounted on a common shaft-4B, having its ends carried by spaced ears or; lugs 50, separated from the associated. lboard iby a bearing-plate 51 on the setting-out unit of each board is mounted. These. units may be attached to their associated board by bolts 52 extending through the board. andbear-ing plate. and threadedly engaging the lugs 50. The severalzrollsof thesetting-out unitiof each board are divided by the longitudinal center line of the board into a pair of divergent or angularly disposed groups of rolls, the rolls of each group being inclined downwardly toward the outer edge of the board and arranged oblique or echelon formation, with th contiguous bearmgs of adjacent rolls preferably overlapping longitudinally of the board. With corresponding rolls on each board confronting when 'may beiormediof a plurality of imi'form orstandand sections 5 or "segments 54. 1T0 reduce its weight, each of the sections. preferably has a hub :55 iandga radially spaced, annular. rim or flange 'ifipoonnected by a plurality of :sp'o'kes or arms 5! projecting radially from thehub. For drivably connecting theaseveralsections," the shaft 4 may be longitudinally slotted to receivea common .key 58: engaging a like keyway in each Oil the several hubs 55, .thehubs additionally beingprov'ided with individual set screws 59 for fixing their positions axially of the shaft.

It is the usual-practice in bufling rolls to employ a single aabrasive sleeve, wrapped around the "roll, as. the abrading medium. In the roll of the present: invention there are employed, instead, a plurality of abrasive loops positioned about the periphery of thezrollin staggered relation, and so anchored or attached thereto as to limit the pressure applied to the work being buffed to. the centrifugal forceexerted on the abrasive loops by rotation of the roll. Tothis end, the .outerwall orgsurfaceofa the rim 5'6 of each drum section-or unit .54- is interrupted by a plurality of; radially arranged, axially extending grooves, seats or :channelstfl, spaced circumferentially by axially extendingribs or splines 61, forming the intervening portions of the rim. To accommodate thepartticular form of anchoring means employed in the illustrated embodiment, the grooves fill are 'concavely arcuate or substantially semicylindrical, thus, with the intervening ribs, imparting to each section the appearance :of a sprocket wheel. When assembled into a roll of the desired Width, the grooves of the several sectionsare intended to align into continuous grooves extending thefull length of theroll, such alignment being obtainable through the key 58 and its associated keyways. When assembled, it is desirablethat both the rims 55 and hubs 55 of adjoining or contiguous sections abut, to minimize stresses. The several sections may then be boards arein closed or operative position, a

"skin will be spread or set-out transversely as it is draw-n upwardly by the rolls. These rolls are adapted to accommodate skins of different thickness by, yielding of the back board in the'manner previously described. With themsettin'g-out rolls spreading a skin transversely or laterally, and the gripping surfaces of the nose-piece 3B and 112L744 opposing longitudinal movement, an operator, merely :by withdrawing or pulling out a skin when the boards or jaws, l lland. H, areclosed by actuation of the treadle 33, causes a skin to be spread both longitudinally and transversely before it reaches the back-up nose M, and rithus ensures that a skin, when brought into line contact with the bufli-ng roll, will present thereto a smooth, miwrinkled surface.

Presented in smooth, taut condition by the back-up member 9,-askin is enabled to be buffed uniformly and without danger of scorching or beingzcut through by the form of bailing roll here employed. Mounted on the frame I inthe man- .nerpreviously described, the buffing roll 5 is comprised of a drum, cylinderorsupport 53smounted "cn the shaft 4. To. enable its width to bevaried .tozadapt it readily to handle work of "any width, depending upon the effective widthtof the backmember. 9 with which it is employed, the drum held together or connected by suitable mans, such as the illustrated axially disposed bolts 62 projectingthrough aligned openings 63 in the spokes '5! of the several sections.

Looping of the abrasive medium about theperip-hery :of the drum 53 is accomplished by the provision ofwa' plurality of cores, collars or frame .memberst l, each adapted to. be inserted in and encircledby an-abrasive sleeve or tube. 65.. These cores are tubular, being formed as rings, hoops orbands, and are made of resilient orflexible material. The cores areof such shape that they conform to the contour of the grooves 60, when fixed or seated therein, and thus clamp, grip, fasten or anchor the associated abrasive sleeves 55 against the confronting walls of the grooves.

For retaining or securing the cores M and their associated abrasivesleeves 65 in the grooves 60, theremay be provided lock, retaining, fastening or anchorbars' or members 56. These bars are insertible through the cores and removably secured to the rim 5-5 by anchor bolts 61 threadedly enga ms holes 68; at the bottomsof the grooves. A single bar is employed for each of the grooves, the bar extending the length of its groove and securing therein "one ormore of the cores, depending en the length of the roll. The bars, preferably, yare rectangular in sectiongand made .of aluminum or likematerial, this metal taking a sufficient bend or deformation on tightening of the anchor bolts 61 to prevent the cores from shifting; axially of the roll.

IWere each 'of :the; coresy64 of. circular section,

it would efiectively clamp the associated sleeve 65 in its groove or seat (ill, but would also pro-- vide .a relatively stiff backing for the outer portion of the sleeve causing the abradent to cut or gouge any portion of the presented skin of greater thickness than that for which the buffer was set. Accordingly, while the main or lower portions 59 of thecores are cylindrical in contour and conform to the conformation of the seats 60 in the drum '53, their outer portions or faces iii are spaced inwardly of the corresponding abrasive sleeves 6'5, enabling the sleeves to project therebeyond in the form of unsupported or unbacked loops H. Such sleeves have been found to buff with optimum efficiency if their normal cylindrical contour or shape is retained on rotation of the buffing roll. However, if the portion of the sleeve beyond the periphery of the drub 53 is entirely unsupported, it has been found that the sleeve will distort progressively out of its normal shape as the speed of the roll is increased. Accordingly, the cylindrical or sleeveengaging portions 69 of the cores project somewhat beyond the periphery of the drum to enable their projecting end portions to serve as guide elements for controlling or maintaining the conformation or shape of the sleeves, regardless of the speed of the roll.

If the cores 64 ended in unconnected edges, they would both tend to cut the associated sleeve and gouge a skin if accidentally brought into engagement with the skin. Additionally, it has been found that the projecting end portions of the cores, if unconnected, have almost as great a tendency to deform, on rotation of the buihng roll, as do the sleeves. Accordingly, the aforementioned outer portions of the sleeves are utilized both to protect the upper ends of the cylindrical portions 69 against deformation and, by merging with the cylindrical portions in rounded, outer shoulders 72, to minimize possible damage to a skin. In the illustrated embodiment, these requisites are obtained by flattening the outer face or portion 18 of each core through the provision of substantially fiat reentrant wings 73 obtained by inturning the edges of the core on either side, the wings overlapping at the center and there being joined by suitable means, such as the disclosed rivets M. While preventing spreading or expansion of the cores on rotation of the roll, the wings, also being resilient or flexi=ble, are enabled to bow or bend outwardly or inwardly, thus rendering the cores contractible or compressible. Although this inward bendability of the wings, coupled with the rounding of the outer shoulders 12, would minimize damage should either accidentally bear against a skin, it is preferred that the wings and shoulders be spaced sufficiently inwardly of the normal outer extremities or outermost end portions of the loops i! to permit the latter to yield within limits including any possible variations in thickness of the group of skins being buffed.

To maintain the cores lit with their openings outwardly facing, there is formed in each, beyond the reentrant wings 13, a pair of reversecurved or outturned legs or positioning members 15 which are disposed below or radially inwardly of the shoulders 12, and are adapted at their outward ends to engage or rest on the outer surfaces of the adjacent or bounding ribs ti. These legs also serve as an abutment to position the abrasive sleeves 65 on the core, by limiting the extent to which the core is insertible in the sleeve. Consequently, by making the abrasive sleeves of the same length as the reentrant wings 13 of the cores, uniform clamping and support of the sleeves throughout their lengths is assured.

As shown, the cores 64 and the abrasive sleeves $55, supported thereby, are disposed about the periphery of the assembled sections 54 in staggered relation. In the illustrated embodiment, this is obtained by seating three cores in each of the grooves 611, these alternating in their spacing, axially of the roll, with the cores in the adjoining grooves and facing in the opposite direction. There are thus provided six circumferential sets or bands of loops which are overlapped slightly to ensure that the surface of the work will be buifed over its entire width. So mounted, the legs of each core will serve to limit axial shifting of the adjacent cores of adjoining grooves in one direction, should the holddown or anchor bar of one axial row of cores accidentally become loosened. Shifting of the cores in the opposite axial direction is limited by the heads of the associated anchor bolts. To prevent a core from being thrown off either end of the roll, there are provided, on the opposite ends of the roll, stop means which may be in the form of screws it carrying washers 11, each of the latter projecting within the marginal edges of the adjacent grooves and being adapted to engage the confronting end of the endmost core in one of the grooves.

A feature of the buffing roll of the present invention is that it not only presents its abrading medium in loop form and, by reliance on centrifugal force, is enabled to follow any irregularities in contour of the surface being buffed, but that full use can be made of the abrading surface of each of the abrasive sleeves 65. After the roll has operated for a period, the contacting surfaces of the several abrasive loops will, of course, show wear. When this approaches the stage at which further bufiing would be less efficient, the roll is stopped. Then, by loosening the several anchor bolts Bi and compressing the cores by pinching in their positioning legs 15, the sleeves may readily be turned about their cores to expose a fresh working surface.

As previously mentioned, the illustrated buffer is of the multi-pass type in which the operator pulls part of a surface of a skin past the buffing roil in one pass and reverses the ends of the skin for a second to buff the remainder of the surface. Current buffing machines of this type generally utilize the pressure exerted on a skin by their buffing and back-up members to resist the pull of the operator and thus obtain substantially uniform buffing of its surface. However, in the instant buffer, the bufiing pressure is limited to the centrifugal force on the unbacked loops of the abrasive sleeves t5 and affords insuflicient drag to enable an operator effectively to control the buffing. Consequently, the conventional back-up members would not suffioe and are here replaced by the multi-jawed back-up member a by which the necessary drag is supplied independently of bufiing pressure.

In operation of the disclosed buffer, the jaws, it and ii, are normally held open by the spring at which, by acting on the hinged jaw ii, causes the nose-piece 38 to be withdrawn or displaced sufiiciently from its operative position to expose the opening between the jaws. The operator drops or places the outer end portion of a skin within this opening and, by depressing the actuating treadle 33, causes the jaws to close and pieceand the lip. Thelimit ofmovement of l the nose-piece having been previously set by ad ustment of the links 29 to take therange of thickness of the skins to be buffed, actuationof the treadle' thereafter enables the buffer, by virtue of the yieldability of the inner jaw II and the abrasive loops II, automatically to accom-u modate itself to variations in the several skins. Atthe same time, the pull exerted on the skin by the operatorreacts through thesetting out' rolls and yieldable grip to spreadthe skinboth longitudinally and transverseiy, such that the surface presented to the bufling roll is smooth and enabled to be uniformly buffed. Thebufflng will, of course, produce a considerable: amount of dust composed of waste particles of abrasive grit andskin. If desired, this dust canbe removed continuously during the operation bypartially enclosing the buifing roll inaconventional suction hood (not shown) From the above detailed'description, itiwill be apparent that there has been provided an improved buffer of wide application andparticularly suited for bufling skins, which effectively sets out work, ensuring its presentation for buffing in smooth, taut condition, is enabled automatically to accommodate itself to work of a considerable range of thickness, and is adapted, through the form of its abradant, to buff the work uniformly, regardless of surface irregularities. It shouldbe understood thatthe' described and disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention and that all modi-- fications are intended to be included which do not depart either from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended'claims.

Having described my invention,- I claim:

1. A buffer comprising a movable support, abrasive loops carried by and projecting outwardly beyond said support, means in and spaced inwardly of the outermost portions of said loops the setting-out rolls for limting the minimum projectionof saidrloopsw and anchoring said loops to said support, abackup-member displaceable relative to said'support for presenting work to said loops, and means carried by said back-up member for yieldably, resisting passage of said work past said support independentlyof pressure exerted thereon by said loops and back-up member.

2. Abuifer comprising a bufling drum, abradan't clamped to and projecting in unbacked loop form peripherally of said drum, a back-up member displaceable relative to saiddrum for presenting work to said abradant, and means carried by said back-up member for yieldably resisting passage of said work past said abradan't independently of pressure exerted thereon by said abradant and back-up member.

3. A buffer comprising a buflingdrum, abra+ dant clamped toand rojecting'in unbacked loop form peripherally of said drum, aback-up member displaceable relative to said drum for presenting, work to said abradant, and means carried by said back-up member and operative on withdrawal of work therefrom for spreading work longitudinally and transversely and presenting said work in smooth, taut conditionto said abradant.

4. A buffer comprising a bufling drum, abradant clamped to and projecting in unbackedloop form peripherally of saiddrum, a back-up member for presenting work to said abradant, said member having apair ofjaws' movable relative means to each other andto said drum, and means car'- ried by each of said jaws and coacting on closing thereof for exerting longitudinal and transverse spreading forces onwork withdrawn from said jaws'into bufiing engagement with said abra,

able jaw and-pivotalrelative thereto for openingand closing said jaws, means normally main taining saidjaws in open position, means for closing said jaws, and means carried by and operative on closing of said jaws for setting-out a skin withdrawn from said jaws into engagement with said abrading loops.

6. In a buffer havinga movable bufiing device, the combination of a back-up member shiftable relative to said bufling member for presentingwork thereto, a yieldably mounted member confronting said back-up member, means carried by said members and positioned in advance of a work-presenting surface of said backup member for yieldably resisting movement of said workpast said 'bufling member independentlyof buiiing pressure-exerted thereon, and means carried by said members and associated with said resisting means for spreading said work prior to presentation thereof to saidbufling member.

7. A buffer comprising a'rotary drum, a plurality of abrasive sleeves carried by and projecting inunbacked loop formperipherally beyond said drum for yieldably buffing work, core means within each of said .sleeves for controlling the shape thereof, means associated with said core means for anchoringsaid sleevesto said drum, back-up means displaceable relative to said drum for presenting saidwork to said abrasive sleeves, means'displaceable with said back-up means for yieldably resisting movement of said work past said buffing member independently of bufiing pressure exerted thereon by said sleeves, and means carried by said back-up means for spreading said work prior to presentation thereof to said bufling member.

8. Abuffer comprising a rotary drum, a plurality of abrasive sleeves carried by and projecting in unbacked loop form peripherally beyond said drum for yieldably bufling work, core means within each of said sleeves for controlling the shape thereof, means associated with said core means for anchoring said sleeves to said drum, back-up -means shiftable relative to said drum for presenting said work to said abrasive sleeves, means for yieldably resisting movement of said work past said bufli'ng member, and means for setting-out said work, said resisting and settingout means being displaceable relative to said drum and operative on' movement of said back-up into bufllng position relative to said sleeves.

*9. A skinbuifer comprising a rotary drum, a plurality of unbacked abrasive loops anchored to and projecting peripherally of said drum for yieldably buflinga skin, aback-up member associated with said drum and having a pair of jaws movable relative to each other and to said drum, one of said jaws carrying back-up means for presenting said skin to said loops, and means on said jaws and cooperating on movement of said one jaw to skin-presenting position for settingout said skin and yieldably resisting movement thereof past said drum.

10. A skin bufier comprising a rotary drum, a plurality of unbacked abrasive loops anchored to and projecting peripherally of said drum for yieldably buffing a skin, a back-up member having a pair of relatively movable jaws, a back-up element on one of said jaws and normally removed from said loops for presenting a skin to said loops on movement of said jaw to operative position, gripping means carried by each of said jaws for yieldably resisting movement of said skin past said drum, and a plurality of angularly disposed sets of obliquely arranged rolls on each of said jaws for setting-out said skin, said gripping means and setting-out rolls being normally inoperative and coacting on movement of said one jaw to operative position.

11. A skin bufier comprising a rotary drum, a plurality of unbacked arbrasive loops anchored to and projecting peripherally of said drum for yieldably buffing a skin, a back-up member having a pair of relatively movable jaws, one of said jaws having a back-up element and being oscillatable relative to said drum for moving said back-up element into skin-presenting position relative to said loops, gripping means carried by each of said jaws for yieldably resisting movement of said skin past said drum, and a plurality of angularly disposed sets of obliquely arranged rolls on each of said jaws for setting-out said skin, said gripping means and setting-out rolls being normally inoperative and coacting on movement of said one jaw to skin-presenting position.

12. In a skin buffer having a movable bumng device, a back-up member comprising a pair of normally open jaws for receiving a portion of a skin therebetween, back-up means carried by one of said jaws and operative on closing thereof for presenting a skin to said device, gripping elements carried by each of said jaws and cooperating to resist movement of said skin past said device, and a plurality of opposed outwardly facing sets of rolls arranged in echelon on each of said jaws and cooperating to set-out said skin, said gripping elements and setting-out rolls being normally inoperative and cooperating on closing of said jaws.

13. A bufiing device comprising a movable support, a plurality of abrasive sleeves carried by and projecting in unbacked loop form beyond said support, a resilient core in each'sleeve, said core normally expanding and inhibiting movement of said sleeve and being compressible to permit movement of said sleeve relative thereto, and clamping means engageable with said cores for releasably anchoring said sleeves therethrough to said support.

14. A bufiing device comprising a movable support, a plurality of spaced seats on said support, abrasive sleeves seated in said seats and projecting beyond said support, a resilient core in each of said sleeves, said cores terminating outwardly intermediate outer extremities of said seats and sleeves, means on said cores for yieldably limiting the minimum projection of said sleeves, and clamping means engageable with said cores for releasably anchoring said sleeves therethrcugh in said seats.

15. A bufling roll comprising a rotary drum formed of a plurality of uniform sections, said drum having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, outwardly facing seats in the periphery thereof, abrasive sleeves seated in said seats and projecting in loop form therebeyond, cores in said sleeves, said cores projecting above said seats and being spaced inwardly from said sleeves adjacent outer extremities thereof, and clamping means for releasably anchoring said cores and therethrough said sleeves in said seats.

16. A bufling roll comprising a rotary drum, said drum having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending, cylindrically concave seats interrupting the periphery thereof, a plurality of abrasive sleeves seatable in said seats, resilient tubular cores in said sleeves and adapted to conform to the contour of said seats, said cores each having reentrant Wings projecting inwardly from either side thereof and connected therebetween and outturned legs beyond and below said wings and cooperating with said drum for fixing the position of said wings, said wings being spaced inwardly from said sleeves outwardly of said seats for limiting the minimum projection of said sleeves, and clamping means for anchoring said sleeves to said drum through said cores.

1'7. A buffing device comprising a movable support, abrasive loops carried by and projecting outwardly beyond said support, cores in and spaced inwardly of outermost portions of said loops for limiting the minimum projection of said loops, and clamps for anchoring said loops to said support through said cores.

18. A bufiing device comprising a movable support, abrasive loops carried by and rojecting outwardly beyond said support, cores in and spaced inwardly of outermost portions of said loops for controlling the shape and limiting the minimum projection of said loops, and clamping means engageable with said cores for anchoring said loops therethrough to said support.

19. A buffing device comprising a rotary support formed of a plurality of axially separable segments, circumferentially spaced seats in and interrupting peripheries of said segments, abrasive sleeves seatable in said seats, a core in and disposed inwardly of an outer extremity of each of said sleeves, and clamping means for anchoring said sleeves in said seats through said cores.

20. A buifing device comprising a rotary support formed of a plurality of axially separable segments, circumferentially spaced seats in and interrupting peripheries of said segments, abrasive sleeves seatable in said sea-ts, a core in and disposed inwardly of an outer extremity of each of said sleeves, and clamping means common to certain of said sleeves for clamping said sleeves in said seats through said cores.

21. A buffing device comprising a rotary support formed of a plurality of axially separable segments, circumferentially spaced seats in and interrupting peripheries of said segments, seats of adjacent of said. segments being staggered, abrasive sleeves seatable in said seats, a core in and disposed inwardly of an outer extremity of each of said sleeves, and clamping means for anchoring said sleeves in said seats through said cores.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 345,063 Knipe July 6, 1886 (Other references on following page) Number 13 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hendershot Aug. 26, 1890 Amidon Oct. 1, 1901 Haskell Sept. 1, 1903 Hellwig Feb. 20, 1906 Perkins Aug. 17, 1909 Grover Apr. 30, 1912 Feix Dec. 12, 1916 Thornber May 3, 1921 Browning -May 1, 1923 Number Number Name Date Binns June 15, 1926 Miller June 26, 1934 Fabregat Sept. 25, 1934 Pearson Jan. 15, 1935 Miller Oct. 29, 1935 McLaughlin Nov. 9, 1937 Knowlton Oct. 22, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Dec. 20, 1904 

